Jefferson Lerma’s goal in the 39th minute secured Colombia a 1-0 victory over Uruguay on Wednesday night, propelling them to the Copa America final against Lionel Messi and Argentina. Despite being reduced to ten men for the entire second half, Colombia held on to their lead, aiming for their first Copa America title since hosting and winning in 2001.
Daniel Munoz received his second yellow card in first-half stoppage time, leaving Colombia a man short. However, they managed to maintain their composure and secure the win, extending their unbeaten streak to a team record of 28 games—the longest current streak in men’s football.
The match was highly contentious, featuring seven yellow cards and one red. Tensions boiled over at the final whistle, with players from both teams engaging in a scuffle on the field and some even clashing with fans in the stands.
Argentina, the defending champions seeking their 16th Copa America title, will face Colombia on Sunday night at Miami Gardens, Florida. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter as Argentina looks to join Spain as the only country to win three consecutive major titles.
The atmosphere at Bank of America Stadium was electric, with a predominantly pro-Colombia crowd donning yellow jerseys and waving flags. Uruguay, facing their first tournament setback, couldn’t recover from Lerma’s decisive strike.
